Lü Yi

史载（Historical Record）

Lü Yi, styled Jiyang, was a native of Nanyang. His father Lü Chang had once followed the late General Liu Yan into Shu, and afterward, cut off by the wars, was unable to return to his native place. Lü Yi lost his father in childhood and was orphaned and destitute from an early age, yet he was diligent and fond of learning, especially fond of reading books and playing the zither^[1].

After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, he established the office of Colonel of the Salt Bureau to manage salt and iron affairs. The Colonel of the Salt Bureau, Wang Lian, recognizing his worth, invited Lü Yi, along with Du Qi of Nanyang and Liu Gan of Nanxiang, to serve together as Commandants of the Bureau Section^[1]. During his tenure as chief of Xindu County and of Mianzhu County, Lü Yi showed concern for the hardships of the people and won their hearts, his administrative achievements ranking among the foremost of the counties of Yi Province^[1].

Thereafter, Lü Yi was promoted to Grand Administrator of Baxi. As Chancellor Zhuge Liang campaigned in the north year after year, levying troops from the various commanderies, often the commanderies and counties failed to respond in time. Yet Lü Yi was able to take the initiative to recruit five thousand elite soldiers and send them to Zhuge Liang's army, and to soothe and manage them strictly, so that not one man in the army deserted^[1]. For his outstanding performance, Lü Yi was transferred to Grand Administrator of Hanzhong, concurrently overseeing agriculture, charged with securing the grain supply for the front lines and providing solid logistical support to the Northern Expedition forces^[1].

After Zhuge Liang died, Lü Yi's career continued to advance, and he was successively promoted to Grand Administrator of Guanghan and of Shu Commandery. As the seat of the capital, Shu Commandery had a large population and complex affairs. Especially after Zhuge Liang's death, there appeared in society many unlawful phenomena such as soldiers deserting and impersonating one another. Upon taking office, Lü Yi immediately set about establishing preventive mechanisms and patiently exhorted and admonished. After several years of governance, those who voluntarily surrendered themselves numbered more than ten thousand^[1].

Finally, Lü Yi entered court as Master of Writing, and later succeeded Dong Yun as Director of the Masters of Writing. He handled government affairs decisively and efficiently, settling every matter swiftly, so that no guests lingered at his gate. Throughout his life, whether in inner or outer office, Lü Yi disciplined himself with frugality and was modest and sparing of words. He promoted simple, uncomplicated governance, and was therefore acclaimed as a "pure and capable" minister. However, Lü Yi was harsh and severe in enforcing the law, and was partial to employing the common clerks who were skilled in paperwork, so that after he attained high office his reputation was actually not as good as during his service in the commanderies and counties^[1]. In the fourteenth year of Yanxi (251 CE), Lü Yi died. His son Lü Chen served as chief of Chengdu during the Jingyao era, and another son, Lü Ya, served as a Receptionist; Lü Ya was upright and had literary talent, and authored the *Gelun* in fifteen chapters^[1].

演中（In the Novel）

*Romance of the Three Kingdoms* gives no independent, detailed literary portrayal of Lü Yi, and his deeds are not clearly mentioned in the novel. Therefore Lü Yi's image in the novel is almost a blank, not endowed, like other important figures, with a distinct character or participation in key events. This contrasts with his standing in the histories as an important official of the later Shu Han period, where the records detail his career from local official to central minister, and his outstanding contributions in salt and iron management, military logistics, and local governance^[1]. This treatment in the novel makes Lü Yi's image depend entirely on the historical record, without additional literary coloring or dramatic conflict.

关键关系

* Shu Han: Lü Yi served the Shu Han regime all his life, from local county chief and grand administrator up to Director of the Masters of Writing at the center—an important pillar minister of the later Shu Han period^[1].
* Zhuge Liang: Lü Yi provided military support and logistical security for Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, recruiting five thousand soldiers and supplying army grain—an important collaborator in Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions^[1].
* Wang Lian: In his early years Lü Yi was promoted by the Colonel of the Salt Bureau, Wang Lian, to serve as Commandant of the Bureau Section. Wang Lian was discerning in recognizing and employing men, holding that Lü Yi and the others "would all in the end reach high office," ample evidence of his recognition of Lü Yi's talent^[2]. The starting point of Lü Yi's career was inseparable from Wang Lian's recommendation.
* Dong Yun: Lü Yi succeeded Dong Yun in the post of Director of the Masters of Writing, showing his important standing in the later Shu Han court^[1].

标志性场景

* Bureau Section of the Salt Office: After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Lü Yi was selected by the Colonel of the Salt Bureau, Wang Lian, to serve as Commandant of the Bureau Section, managing salt and iron affairs, displaying his early administrative talent^[1].
* Recruiting troops to aid Liang: When Chancellor Zhuge Liang campaigned in the north, Lü Yi took the initiative to recruit five thousand elite soldiers and send them to the army, managing them well so that not one deserted, showing his capacity for military deployment and his support for Zhuge Liang^[1].
* Overseeing agriculture in Hanzhong: Lü Yi served as Grand Administrator of Hanzhong concurrently overseeing agriculture, charged with providing army grain for the Northern Expedition forces, securing Shu Han's military operations^[1].
* A pure official of Shu Commandery: After Zhuge Liang's death, Shu Commandery saw many problems of soldiers deserting and impersonating one another; upon taking office, Lü Yi, through strict prevention and exhortation, brought more than ten thousand to surrender themselves, displaying his outstanding ability in governance^[1].
* Governing as Director of the Masters of Writing: After Lü Yi was promoted to Director of the Masters of Writing, he handled government affairs efficiently and decisively, with "no matters left pending and no guests lingering at the gate," and was acclaimed as "pure and capable"^[1].